Finland to continue closure of Russian border for sine die

The government proposed to continue closure of Russian border for an indefinite period and extend the validity of the Border Security Act until 31 December 2028., said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release.

The ministry requested views on a draft government proposal to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration, known as the Border Security Act.

The deadline for submitting views is 14 August and the government aims to submit the proposal to Parliament in September 2026.

The purpose of the act is to prevent the use of instrumentalised migration to put pressure on Finland.

“The security authorities estimate that the threat of instrumentalised migration at Finland's eastern border will remain high for quite some time. Rapid changes in the security situation are also not expected,” said Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen in the press release.

The Border Security Act entered into force on 22 July 2024 and was originally in force for one year.

In 2025, the validity of the act was extended until 31 December 2026. It lays down the conditions under which Finland can decide to restrict the reception of applications for international protection in a limited area at Finland’s national border and in its immediate vicinity.

The act ensures that border authorities have sufficient powers to effectively combat instrumentalised migration. Its application always requires a separate decision.

The border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia have been closed since 15 December 2023 by virtue of a series of government decisions.

Applications for international protection may be submitted at other border crossing points at Finland’s external borders that are still open for air and maritime traffic.

The most recent decision was made on 4 June 2026. The decision is in force until further notice.

Earlier on 16 April 2025 the government issued similar decision in this regard.

The decision repealed a similar decision made by the government on 4 April 2024.

Earlier, the government on January 11, 2024 decided that the border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia will remain closed until 11 February 2024.

The government on December 14, 2023 decided to close all land border with Russia.

The government on December 12 decided to resume two border crossing points at eastern border from December 14.

The government on November 28 decided to close the all the border crossing points with Russia from November 30 against the backdrop of influx of the increasing number of asylum seekers.

Earlier, Finland closed three more border crossing points- Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius- at the eastern border early November 24.